Top Home Equity Investment Companies in Arizona 2026: Features & Fees Compared
The Scout Executive Summary:
- For the lowest fee and longest term: Point (3.9%, 30 years) is the starting point for most Arizona homeowners planning to stay beyond a decade.
- For the highest investment amount with cost protection: Hometap (up to $600,000, 20% annualized cap) suits homeowners in high-appreciation Scottsdale ZIP codes who need a large lump sum.
- For flexibility during the term: Unlock (partial buyout) and Splitero (maturity match, home improvement credit) offer structural advantages no other Arizona HEI provider has.
Five HEI companies currently operate in Arizona. They all offer the same core product: cash today, no monthly payments, appreciation share at settlement. But the terms differ meaningfully, and in a high-appreciation market like the Phoenix Valley, those differences can translate to tens of thousands of dollars at settlement. Here is the complete Arizona-specific comparison.
In This Article:
- What Is a Home Equity Investment?
- Which HEI Companies Operate in Arizona in 2026?
- Arizona HEI Companies: Side-by-Side Comparison
- Top Home Equity Investment Companies in Arizona
- How Arizona’s Appreciation Rate Affects Which Company to Choose
- Real Cost Scenario: Phoenix Homeowner Example
- Which HEI Company Is Right for Your Arizona Situation?
- Home Equity Investment Alternatives
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is a Home Equity Investment and Why Does the Company Matter?
An HEI gives you a lump sum of cash in exchange for a percentage share of your home’s future value at settlement. No monthly payments, no interest rate, no debt in the traditional sense. When you sell, refinance, or reach the end of the term, the company collects its agreed-upon share of your home’s value at that time.
The company choice matters because every HEI provider structures the core terms differently: the appreciation share percentage, the term length, the origination fee, how the starting home value is calculated, and whether you can make partial buybacks or exit early without penalty.
In Arizona’s high-appreciation markets (where Scottsdale’s 85255 ZIP code posted 8.2% year-over-year appreciation and 85258 posted 20.7% in Q1 2026 per ARMLS), these structural differences can translate to significant settlement cost variation on the same property and the same investment amount.
For a full explanation of how HEI appreciation share math works for Arizona homeowners, see the full HEI explainer →
Which HEI Companies Operate in Arizona in 2026?
The primary HEI providers currently serving the Arizona market include:
- Point: Best for long horizons and low fees.
- Hometap: Best for max cash amounts and transparent cost-tracking.
- Unlock: Best for flexible exit strategies via partial buyouts.
- Unison: Best for well-qualified borrowers seeking a clean, 30-year term.
- Splitero: Best for low credit and “maturity matching” your existing mortgage.
Arizona HEI Companies: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Point | Hometap | Splitero | Unlock | Unison |
| Max Investment | $600,000* | $600,000 | $500,000 | $500,000 | $500,000 |
| Term Length | Up to 30 Yrs | 10 Yrs | Up to 30 Yrs | 10 Yrs | Up to 30 Yrs |
| Min Credit | 500 | 585–600 | 500 | 500 | 620 |
| Origination Fee | 3.9% | 4.5% | 4.99% | 4.9% + Costs | 3.9% |
| Return Cap? | No | 20% Cap | 19.99% Cap | 19.9% Cap | No |
| Best For | Long horizon | Large lump sum | Low credit/Fast | Partial buyout | Well-qualified |
All terms subject to change. Verify current terms directly with each provider before applying.
Top home equity investment companies in Arizona
Point: Best for Long-Term Arizona Homeowners
Point is the best overall home equity sharing company for Arizona homeowners who plan to stay in their property beyond a 10-year window.
| Max Amount & Term | Up to $500K. Up to 30 years (longest available in the HEI market). |
| Fee | Origination fee of 3.9%, among the lowest of any HEI provider. A $100,000 investment nets approximately $96,100 in cash after the fee. |
| Standout Feature | The Re-Point feature allows homeowners to take an additional investment during the 30-year term if more equity access is needed later. |
| Trade-off | No published annualized return cap, which makes total settlement cost less predictable in high-appreciation Arizona markets. |
| Availability | Select states, including Arizona. |
Hometap: Best for Large Investment Amounts
Hometap is the strongest choice for Arizona homeowners who need the largest possible lump sum and want built-in settlement cost protection.
| Max Amount & Term | Up to $600K (the highest maximum available in the HEI market). 10 year term. |
| Fee | 4.5% origination fee, capped at $20,000. A $100,000 investment nets approximately $95,500 after the fee. |
| Standout Feature | Hometap’s Home Equity Dashboard provides ongoing visibility into your current home value estimate, the current cost of Hometap share, and interactive forecasting tools. Most transparent real-time cost tracking of any HEI provider. |
| Trade-off | The 10-year term creates a defined settlement pressure that Point and Unison’s 30-year terms do not. For Arizona homeowners planning to stay beyond a decade, this is a meaningful constraint. |
| Availability | Select states, including Arizona. |
Unlock: Best for Flexible Exit Options
Unlock is the right choice for Arizona homeowners who want the ability to gradually reduce their outstanding HEI balance rather than settling in one lump sum.
| Max Amount & Term | Up to $500K. 10 year term. |
| Fee | 4.9% origination fee plus closing costs which is the highest of the four providers. A $100,000 investment nets approximately $95,100 or less after fees. |
| Standout Feature | The only major HEI provider with a Partial Buyout feature. You can repay the agreement in portions during the 10-year term which is useful for homeowners who expect capital from a business sale, inheritance, retirement distribution, or other event. |
| Trade-off | Highest total fee structure of the four providers. The partial buyout flexibility comes at a cost premium compared to Point and Unison. |
| Availability | Select states, including Arizona. |
Unison: Best for Long-Term Holders Who Want Broad Coverage
Unison pairs the long-term flexibility of a 30-year term with the broadest state availability of any HEI provider and a clean fee structure.
| Max Amount & Term | Up to $500K. Up to 30 year term. |
| Fee | 3.9% origination fee, matching Point’s low-cost structure. A $100,000 investment nets approximately $96,100. |
| Standout Feature | Down market protection included. If your Arizona home loses value, Unison shares in the depreciation and you owe less at settlement. |
| Trade-off | 620 minimum credit score, which is the highest minimum of the four Arizona providers. Unison skews toward well-qualified borrowers. |
| Availability | Select states, including Arizona. |
Splitero: The Flexible Arizona Newcomer
Splitero is a newer entrant in the Arizona HEI market that offers two structural features not available at other providers.
| Max Amount & Term | Up to $500K. Up to 30 year term. |
| Fee | 4.99% origination fee plus $700 to $2,200 in closing costs. |
| Standout Features | Aligns your HEI term with your existing mortgage timeline, avoiding a separate 10-year deadline. Crucially, they exclude value added by improvements; your casita build or kitchen remodel won’t increase Splitero’s appreciation share. |
| Trade-off | Highest upfront fee structure of the five providers. Point and Unison’s 3.9% fee nets more cash at closing. |
| Availability | Select states, now including Arizona. |
How Arizona’s Appreciation Rate Affects Which Company to Choose
Arizona’s high-appreciation markets make the annualized return cap and starting value methodology the two most important structural terms to evaluate, ahead of the investment amount or origination fee.
In a market appreciating at 8%–20% annually, an HEI without a cap on the investor’s return can generate a settlement cost that significantly exceeds what a HELOC would have cost over the same period.
Hometap’s 20% cap and Unlock’s 19.9% cap limit settlement costs in extreme appreciation scenarios. Point and Unison do not publish annualized return caps, which means their total cost in a high-appreciation Arizona market may be less predictable.
At the same time, Point and Unison’s 30-year terms mean more time for Arizona’s appreciation to potentially moderate before settlement is required. For homeowners 62 and older comparing an HEI to a reverse mortgage on total 10-year cost, the math may surprise you.
For current Arizona market data, see the Arizona Home Equity Rates page updated monthly.
Real Cost Scenario: Phoenix Homeowner Example
Scenario: $700,000 Phoenix Valley home, $400,000 existing mortgage at 3%, $80,000 HEI investment, 10-year horizon.
Leading HEI providers typically use an exchange rate structure where the investor receives approximately 2% of the home’s future value for every 1% of current home value accessed as cash. On this scenario, $80,000 on a $700,000 home (11.4% of current value), the investor’s share of the ending home value is approximately 22.8%.
| Investor Receives at Settlement | Annualized Cost | |
| 0% appreciation (flat market) | $159,600 | ~7.2% |
| 3% annually (national average) | $214,320 | ~10.4% |
| 5% annually | $259,920 | ~12.5% |
| 8% annually | $344,508 | ~15.7% |
| 15% annually | $645,696 | ~23.1% |
All figures are illustrative estimates based on a leading HEI provider’s typical exchange rate structure of approximately 2x the percentage of current home value accessed. Annualized cost calculated using the same methodology published in leading HEI provider product disclosures. Actual terms vary significantly by provider and borrower profile. Consult each provider for a personalized offer before comparing.
The table shows why Arizona’s appreciation rate is the most important variable in any HEI cost calculation. In a flat market the HEI’s annualized cost of approximately 7.2% is competitive with other equity products. At 8% annual appreciation, the annualized cost rises to approximately 15.7%. At 15% appreciation, the annualized cost exceeds 23%. For current Arizona market data, see the Arizona Home Equity Rates page →
Which HEI Company Is Right for Your Arizona Situation?
- For Long-Term Residency (10+ Years): Point and Unison offer 30-year terms to avoid forced settlement.
- For High-Appreciation ZIPs (85255, 85258): Hometap and Splitero provide return caps (approx. 20%) to protect your future equity.
- For Home Renovations & Casitas: Splitero is the only provider that excludes the value of your improvements from their profit share.
- For Lower Credit (500+): Point, Unlock, and Splitero specialize in high-equity, flexible-credit approvals.
- For Maximum Equity Access: Hometap and Point lead the market with limits up to $600,000.
- For Flexible Repayment: Unlock allows for partial buyouts so you can pay down the balance over time.
Scout’s honest assessment: for most Arizona homeowners who qualify for a HELOC, a HELOC is the lower total-cost option in high-appreciation markets. An HEI makes the most sense when you cannot qualify for a HELOC (credit below 620, income disqualification, or DTI above 43%), or when you genuinely cannot absorb a second monthly payment.
For Arizona homeowners 62 and older specifically: a HECM reverse mortgage is typically the lower-cost no-payment option compared to an HEI in appreciating markets. At 8% annual appreciation, a leading HEI provider’s typical structure produces an annualized cost of approximately 15%, double the HECM’s 7.5% effective rate. See the full HEI vs reverse mortgage comparison →
See the full HEI vs HELOC comparison for Arizona homeowners →
Home equity investment alternatives
If you prefer to maintain full ownership of your home’s future appreciation or have the monthly cash flow to support a loan, consider these three Arizona-specific alternatives:
Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC)
A revolving line of credit secured by your home’s equity, with variable rate payments on drawn amounts.
- Best For: Borrowers with 680+ credit who need funds for ongoing projects.
- Key Advantage: You keep 100% of your home’s future growth, but you must make monthly variable-rate payments.
Home Equity Loan
A one-time lump sum with a fixed interest rate and set repayment term.
- Best For: Those seeking payment stability to consolidate high-interest debt.
- Key Advantage: Your rate never changes, providing long-term predictability for your monthly budget.
Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM)
A federally insured Reverse Mortgage specifically for homeowners aged 62 or older.
- Best For: Seniors looking to eliminate mortgage payments, establish a growing line of credit, or access equity without monthly payments.
- Key Advantage: Like an HEI, there are no monthly payments but the HECM is federally insured, carries FHA non-recourse protection, and is typically the lower-cost no-payment option in Arizona’s high-appreciation markets. At 8% annual appreciation, a HECM’s effective rate of approximately 7.5% is meaningfully lower than a leading HEI provider’s annualized cost of approximately 15.7%. See the full Arizona Reverse Mortgage Guide → and the HEI vs reverse mortgage comparison →
See how a HECM compares to a HELOC for Arizona retirees →“
FAQ: Home Equity Investment Companies in Arizona
There is no single best choice for every situation. For homeowners who plan to stay more than 10 years, Point or Unison’s 30-year terms remove the pressure of forced settlement. For homeowners who need the largest possible lump sum, Hometap’s $600,000 maximum is the highest available. For homeowners in high-appreciation ZIP codes who want settlement cost protection, Hometap’s 20% cap and Unlock’s 19.9% cap are meaningful advantages. Get quotes from at least two providers before deciding.
Yes. Point, Hometap, Unlock, and Unison all operate in Arizona as of May 2026. Point is available in 27 states, Unison in 29 states, Hometap in 16 states, and Unlock in 13 states. Confirm current availability with each company directly before applying, as state availability can change.
Point and Unlock both accept credit scores as low as 500. Hometap requires a minimum of 585–600. Unison requires a minimum of 620. None of the four have income or debt-to-income requirements in the traditional lending sense, which makes HEIs accessible to homeowners who cannot qualify for HELOCs.
The origination fee is deducted from the gross investment amount before funds are wired to you. At Point (3.9%), a $100,000 investment nets approximately $96,100 in cash. At Hometap (4.5% capped at $20,000), a $100,000 investment nets approximately $95,500. At Unlock (4.9% plus closing costs), the net is lower still. Always request the net proceeds figure when comparing offers.
All four companies offer some form of down market protection. If your home loses value, the investor shares in that loss and you owe less at settlement than the original investment amount. This is one of the genuine structural advantages of an HEI over a HELOC or home equity loan in a declining market scenario.
Point typically takes 3 weeks or longer. Hometap can fund within days of closing. Unlock typically completes the process in 30–60 days. Unison typically takes 2–4 weeks. Funding speed depends on property documentation, appraisal scheduling, and how quickly you respond to company requests during the process.
Yes. HEI companies work with homeowners who have existing mortgages. The primary mortgage remains in place and the HEI company records a separate lien. Most providers require that after the HEI, your combined mortgage plus HEI does not exceed 70%–80% of your home’s current appraised value. Your existing mortgage rate is completely unaffected.
For most qualified homeowners, a HELOC is the lower total-cost option in high-appreciation Arizona markets. The HEI’s no-payment structure makes sense when monthly cash flow is genuinely constrained, when you cannot qualify for a HELOC, or when you plan to sell within the term period. See the full HEI vs HELOC comparison →
Re-Point is Point’s option to take out an additional investment during the 30-year term. If your home has appreciated and you need additional equity access, you can apply for a new, larger HEI without terminating the original agreement. This feature is specific to Point and is not available at Hometap, Unlock, or Unison.
Yes, you can typically qualify for a Home Equity Investment (HEI) if your property is held in a trust, provided it is a Revocable Living Trust.
EquitySquirrel is an educational resource, not a lender or HEI provider. This content does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice. EquitySquirrel does not endorse any specific HEI provider. HEI company terms, availability, and fees are subject to change. Consult a licensed financial professional and review all terms carefully before entering any HEI agreement. Company data sourced from FinanceBuzz, Money.com, LendEDU, and company disclosures (May 2026). ARMLS Q1 2026 used for Arizona market data. Aleksandra Kadzielawski, Lic #SA694336000.
